Isaac Humphries, former NBA player, reveals his homosexuality and a suicide attempt

The player of Melbourne United became the first active professional men’s basketball player in Australia on Wednesday to come out publicly as gay, expressing relief at leaving behind “extremely dark times” in which he struggled with his sexuality.

The 24-year-old broke the news to his teammates on Wednesday in a video posted on Melbourne United’s own social media. “A few years ago I fell into a very dark place, a very lonely place,” he explains to his companions in the video. “I couldn’t be who I am and I tried to take my own life,” he adds.

“The main reason I went down so much and got to that point was because I was struggling a lot with my sexuality and accepting the fact that I’m gay,” the player acknowledges in the talk.

His move to share his sexuality with his teammates and go public was praised by Melbourne United chief executive Nick Truelson, who said the whole club was proud of Humphries. “Today is an incredible step in Isaac’s journey, and we as a club wholeheartedly support him.”

“Not only as a member of our club, but as a person. This is a momentous occasion for him personally, but also for men’s sport on a global scale.”

Unusual in the elite

Very few male players in professional basketball have come out as gay. In 2013 Jason Collins became the first active NBA player to come out, but no other player in the US league has followed his example.

‘Pride in Sport’, an Australian non-profit organization that advocates for inclusion, applauded Humphries but said his ad highlighted athletes’ fears that they could face discrimination, harassment, bullying and “loss of career opportunities”. if they came out of the closet.

In soccer and also in Australia, Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo last year became the first Australian player to come out as gay in the elite men’s competition.